Sing hymns with our fine all-age choir at our Sunday services, with music from different periods and played on different instruments: organ, piano, brass and strings.
Music plays an exceptionally important part in the life of St Thomas’ Church and has done so for centuries. Music enriches worship at the sung eucharists, choral evensongs, funerals, weddings and special services, accentuating the solemnity and the joy of worship.
At the centre of the music is the choir. Having a competent choir encourages the congregation to join in the singing with more confidence. The choir members are children from the age of 7 and adults. The music sung is from the cathedral repertoire, and over the course of the year, the choir sings more than 200 anthems and settings. These feature music from the 16th century to the present day. Larger scale works are also sung, such as Fauré’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.
The choir is usually accompanied by the organ, which has been recently restored and is now closer to the sound of the original organ by Samuel Green. Sometimes the music lends itself to being accompanied by the Yamaha piano. The church has been fortunate to have outstanding organists who further enrich the worship with their playing. In addition to the organ, worship is enhanced by the use of other instruments with various ensembles playing, as well as soloists.
It is not only in the service that music features. At St Thomas’s there have been regular lunchtime and evening concerts promoted by the church, featuring members of the church and local musicians. The church is also a venue for numerous professional engagements, including events from the Salisbury International Music Festival.
Music is not only integral to the life of St Thomas’ Church, but also serves the City of Salisbury.
